External history History of the Spanish language

1 external history

1.1 origins
1.2 america
1.3 africa
1.4 judeo-spanish
1.5 in pacific
1.6 spain
1.7 international projection

external history

with reconquista in iberia, various vulgar latin language groups ended mixing (along basques). largest such group castilians, language became spanish.

the standard spanish language called castilian in original variant , in order distinguish other languages native parts of spain, such galician, catalan, basque, etc. in earliest documented form, , through approximately 15th century, language customarily called old spanish. approximately 16th century on, called modern spanish. spanish of 16th , 17th centuries called classical spanish, referring literary accomplishments of period. unlike english , french, not customary speak of middle stage in development of spanish.

origins

castilian spanish originated (after decline of roman empire) continuation of spoken latin in several areas of northern , central spain. eventually, variety spoken in city of toledo around 13th century became basis written standard. reconquista, northern dialect spread south, entirely replaced or absorbed local romance dialects, @ same time borrowed many words moorish arabic , influenced mozarabic (the romance speech of christians living in moorish territory) , medieval judaeo-spanish (ladino). these languages had vanished in iberian peninsula late 16th century.

the prestige of castile , language propagated partly exploits of castilian heroes in battles of reconquista—among them fernán gonzález , rodrigo díaz de vivar (el cid)—and narrative poems them recited in castilian outside original territory of dialect.

the first written spanish traditionally considered have appeared in glosas emilianenses. these glosses (translations of isolated words , phrases in form more hispanic romance latin) added between lines of manuscript written earlier in latin. nowadays language of glosas emilianenses considered closer navarro-aragonese language spanish proper. estimates of date vary late 10th 11th century.

the first steps toward standardization of written castilian taken in 13th century king alfonso x of castile, known alfonso el sabio (alfonso wise), in court in toledo. assembled scribes @ court , supervised writing, in castilian, of extensive works on history, astronomy, law, , other fields of knowledge.

antonio de nebrija wrote first grammar of spanish, gramática de la lengua castellana, , presented it, in 1492, queen isabella, said have had appreciation of usefulness of language tool of hegemony, if anticipating empire founded voyages of columbus.

because old spanish resembles modern written language relatively high degree, reader of modern spanish can learn read medieval documents without difficulty.

the spanish royal academy founded in 1713, largely purpose of standardizing language. academy published first dictionary in 6 volumes on period 1726–1739, , first grammar in 1771, , continues produce new editions of both time time. (the academy s dictionary accessible on internet.) today, each of spanish-speaking countries has analogous language academy, , association of spanish language academies created in 1951.

america

beginning in 16th century, spanish colonization brought language americas (mexico, central america, , western , southern south america), spoken today, several island groups in pacific no longer spoken large numbers of people: philippines, palau, marianas (including guam), , today federated states of micronesia.

use of language in americas continued descendants of spaniards, both spanish criollos , amerindian majority. after wars of independence fought these colonies in 19th century, new ruling elites extended spanish whole population strengthen national unity, , nowadays first , official language of resulting republics, except in isolated parts of former spanish colonies.

in late 19th century, still-spanish colonies of cuba , puerto rico encouraged more immigrants spain, , other spanish-speaking countries such argentina, uruguay, , lesser extent chile, colombia, mexico, panama , venezuela, attracted waves of european immigration, spanish , non-spanish, in late 19th , 20th centuries. there, countries large (or sizable minority) population groups of second- , third-generation descendants adopted spanish language part of governments official assimilation policies include europeans. in countries, had catholics , agreed take oath of allegiance chosen nation s government.

when puerto rico became possession of united states consequence of spanish–american war, population—almost entirely of spanish , mixed afro-caribbean/spanish (mulatto , mestizo) descent—retained inherited spanish language mother tongue, in co-existence american-imposed english co-official. in 20th century, more million puerto ricans migrated mainland u.s. (see puerto ricans in united states).

a similar situation occurred in american southwest, including california, arizona, new mexico , texas, spaniards, criollos (tejanos, californios, etc.) followed chicanos (mexican americans) , later mexican immigrants, kept spanish language alive before, during , after american appropriation of territories following mexican–american war. spanish continues used millions of citizens , immigrants united states spanish-speaking countries of americas (for example, many cubans arrived in miami, florida, beginning cuban revolution in 1959, , followed other latin american groups; local majority spanish-speaking). spanish treated country s second language, , on 5 percent of u.s. population spanish-speaking, latino/hispanic americans bilingual or regularly speak english.

africa

the presence of spanish in equatorial guinea dates late 18th century, , adopted official language when independence granted in 1968.

spanish spoken in western sahara, protectorate/colony of spain 1880s 1970s.

judeo-spanish

in 1492 spain expelled jewish population. judaeo-spanish language, called ladino, developed along own lines , continues spoken dwindling number of speakers, in israel, turkey, , greece.

in pacific

in marianas, spanish language retained until pacific war, no longer spoken there significant number of people.

spain

language politics in francoist spain declared spanish official language in spain, , day used language in government, business, public education, workplace, cultural arts, , media. in 1960s , 1970s, spanish parliament agreed allow provinces use, speak, , print official documents in 3 other languages: catalan catalonia, balearic islands , valencia; basque basque provinces , navarre, , galician galicia. since 1975, following death of franco, spain has become multi-party democracy , decentralized country, constituted in autonomous communities. under system, languages of spain—such aranese (an occitan language of northwestern catalonia), basque, catalan/valencian, , galician—have gained co-official status in respective geographical areas. others—such aragonese, asturian , leonese—have been recognized regional governments.

international projection

when united nations organization founded in 1945, spanish designated 1 of 5 official languages (along chinese, english, french, , russian; sixth language, arabic, added in 1973).

the list of nobel laureates in literature includes eleven authors wrote in spanish (josé echegaray, jacinto benavente, gabriela mistral, juan ramón jiménez, miguel Ángel asturias, pablo neruda, vicente aleixandre, gabriel garcía márquez, camilo josé cela, octavio paz, , mario vargas llosa).